High-speed rotary device.



7 PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908 H. A. MYERS.

HIGH SPEED ROTARY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16, 1907.

. separator,

- HUBERT MYERS, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

HIGH-SPEED ROTARY DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1998.

Application filed March 16, 1907. Serial No. 362,652.

To all whom iii-may concern:

citizen of the United States of America, and

resident 'of Goshen, Elkhart county, Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in High-Speed Rotary Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cream separators of that character in which a bowl is rotated at high speed to centrifugally separate the cream from the milk, and contem )lates an improvement on the self-balancing owl disclosed in my prior application No. 353,204.

The object of my present invention is to provide an arrangement by which the selfalancing bowl can release itself from the driving mechanism, so that when the gearing and power transmitting connections are stopped the bowl can continue to spin freely, thus improving the general operation of the lessening the labor of the opera tor, and increasing the general 'efliciency and serviceability of a machine of this character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a self-balancing cream separator bowl", and mechansim for operating the same, embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlar ed detail vertical section of the connection spindle" and the power or driven spindle. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of the clutch arrangement between the two spindles. Fig. 7 is across section on line 7-7 in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, the bowl A is provided with a rigid and downwardly extending spindle B, and may contain or be equipped with any suitable separating means or devices. The bowl spindle B is provided with a reduced portion 1), havinga cross pin 1). The power or driven spindle (3 has a threaded portion or worm r, and a reduced lower end portion 0, which latter i'cstsin a suitable step hearing. The upper portion of the spindle C is supported in a suitable bearing X. Preferably, the upper end of the spindle is made,

hollow, and provided with a single hall Y,

upon which the lower end of the spindle B- rcsts, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The said power spindle ll has its upper endprovided with clutch teeth and a couple of beveled or inclined surfaces 0", as shown.

etween the bowl more clearly in Fig. 6. The looseor intermediate clutch member D hasits upper end provided with ratchet teeth (I, and its lower end provided with clutch teeth (1. While the mechanism is at rest the teeth (1 rest upon the lowest portions of the bevcled or inclined surfaces 0 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; but when the spindle C is rotated the teeth (1 ride up on the surfaces 0 thus bringing the ratchet teeth (1. into positive engagement with the pin b, so as to rotate the spindle B and the bowl above. The worm c is engaged'by' a worm gearing F, which latter can be rotated by suitable means, as,ior example, an ordinary crank handle.

The gearing is preferably so proportioned that the speed of the spindle C is relatively high, so that a quick start of the latter throws the clutch member D upward and into engagement with the pin If, this causing the bowl to rotate. As soon as the gearing stops, the clutch member D then drops back to its normal position, disengaging the spindle B, and permitting the bowl to rotate freely and without any interference. In this way the gearing can the bowl will be allowed to continue rotating at a high speed, spinning freely upon its lower end, which latter rests upon the ball Y.

In order to steady the bowl in starting, and to support the same at such time in an approximately vertical osition, spring devices Eare provided am arranged at intervals around the 11 per portion of the spindle B, in the manner s own in Fig. 2. When the bowl is rotated at full s eed, however, the

be stopped abruptly and spindle does not engage t ese spring devices,

' balance or center itself about/its true axis of rotation. At the same time it can spin freely after the gearing-is stopped, thus preventing a sudden stopping of the bowl and straining of the gearing, and lessening the labor of the operator. In other words, the benefits of the centrifugal action are obtained for some time after the operator has stopped rotating the spindle G, as explained.

From the foregoing. it will he that I provide a spindle and bowl which are free axis of rotation.

from lateral thrust by the transmission of power thereto. In other words, the power transmission does not subject the spindle of the bowl to side thrust, as the communica tion of power thereto is balanced. In this way, the spindle is held against endwise either bearings or the transmission of power,

and this is done without moving the spindle and bowl up and down, or without shifting the screw or worm endwise. In this way, the clutch is operated by the rotary motion of the power transmitting devices, and the transmission ceases as soon as the worm gearing begins to run a, little slower than the bowl. Although the power may continue at a slower s eed, still the bowl is free to disengage itsel' and run ahead of the transmission of power.

While I have embodied my invention in a cream separator, it will be seen that the selfbalancing feature can be employed for other kinds of machinery, and that in the following claims I do not limit myself to a machine for this purpose, except where so specified.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A machine for the purpose specified,

having a rotary driven centrifugal member, means for transmitting power to the member to rotate the same about a vertical axis, said member being mounted for lateral movement and balanced against side thrust by the transmission of power thereto, and an automatic clutch adapted to free the member and allow the latter to continue the self-balancing rotation after the transmission of power ceases.

2. A machine for the purpose specified, having a rotary driven centrifugal member, means for communicating power to the member to rotate the same about a vertical axis, said member being mounted for lateral movement and balanced against side thrust by the transmission of power thereto, and auto matic means adapted to be operated by the cessation of the transmission of power to free the member and allow the latter to continue the self-balancing rotation.

3. A machine for the purpose specified, having a rotary driven centrifugal member, a worm 'earingfor rotating the same about a vertica axis, said member being mounted for lateral movement and balanced against side thrust by the transmission of power thereto, and an automatic clutch for freeing the member and allowing the latter to continue the self-balancing rotation after the worm gearing has discontinued the transmission of power, said gearing comprising a worm held against endwise movement.

4. A machine for the' purpose specified, having a-rotary driven centrifugal member, a transmission gearing for rotating said member about a vertical axis,said member being mounted'for lateral movement and balanced against side thrust by the transmission of power thereto, and an automatic connection for freeing the memberand allowing the same to run ahead or lead the transmission of power with a self balancing rotation thereof.

5. A machine for the pur ose specified, having a rotary driven centri ugal member,

a rotary and downwardly extending spindle,

means for su )porting said spindle, said spindle being le t free to balance itself on the lower end thereof, a power transmission device, and an automatic clutch between the power transmission and the lower end of said spindle, said clutch adapted to disconnect the spindle and permit the latter to rotate freely after the said device has discontinued the transmission ofpower, said'spindle and member being balanced relative to any and all lateral thrust thereon. r

6. A machine for the purpose specified, having a rotary driven centrifugal member, upper and lower spindles, a ball in the lower spindle upon which the lower end of the upoer spindle rests, and an automatic clutch etween said spindles, said clutch adapted to disconnect the upper spindle and allow the same to rotate faster than the lower spindle, said upper spindle being balanced relative to any and all ateral thrust thereon.

7. The improved self balancing spindle mounted for rotation free from external unbalancing influences, and an automatic disconnecting clutch therefor, substantially as shown and described.

8. A rotary spindle mounted for lateral movement sufficient to enable it to find the true vertical axis of rotation, but held against endwise movement, a suitable gearing for rotating the spindle, and a clutch intermediate the said gearing and spindle, said clutch adapted to be opened :by movement of the spindle faster than the gearing.

9. A rotary spindle mounted for lateral movement sullicient to enable it to find the true vertical axis of rotation, means applied to the lower end of the spindle forcommunieating such a, transmission of power thereto that the same is balanced, said power transmission means including mechanism for completely disenga ing or freeing the spindle upon rotation o the latter at a speed greater than the speed of the power transmitting means.

10. A rotary spindle free to move laterally tofind the'true vertical axis of rotation, a

' "member, means carried by the said spindle from by rotation of the spindle faster than to be engaged by said collar or clutch mem-s the said rotary member. 10 her, and a, rotary member axially ali'ned with Signed byme at Chicago, Illinois, this 6th the said collar or clutch member and supday of March, 1907. j

5 porting the same, said clutch member being HUBERT A. MYERS.

adapted to be thrown into engagement with Witnesses: v the spindle by the initial rotation of said NELLIE CLEGG rotarymember, and to be disengaged there- I ALBE T JOHN SAUSER. 

